A Lady Unzipped

Love, she said, still is.
But it’s now secret in the world -
dead and broken

Seasons in Progress

People used to wonder at the sign outside his cubicle that read “Seasons in Progress.” It was actually supposed to read “Session in Progress” but he’d typoed the first word and didn’t notice the auto-correct incorrectly corrected it to read Seasons. In reality, with his days spent infomancing with the new Dynamatronic Computation Engine, ‘seasons’ and ‘sessions’ were pretty much interchangeable in their incongruity. He’d printed the incorrect auto-corrected version and put it up without really noticing the error.

Puzzled, his secretary asked about it after returning from lunch.

“It’s a pun.” he told her, “The DCE uses sessions to keep users logged in. Since I’m always logged in, I’m in session.” He smiled. She didn’t.

“It says ‘Seasons.’”

“…so it does,” he marveled, and forty-three of them went by.

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring found him in a monastery that floated on a lake in a forest. The brook had melted and murmured and glid beneath the Ume blossoms, and he sat silently not thinking, but fishing. Old Man Trout surfaced then, avoiding the hook as usual.

“You’re still here,” the Trout said.

“I am.”

“It’s spring.”

The man nodded.

“You told me last Autumn you were leaving to fish the Aethers.”

“I was angry then. I’m not anymore.” he told the trout, who sank and reemerge moments later, turning one unblinking black eye up to look at the man.

“I wondered if you’d be here when I awoke. I had a dream.” the trout said.

The man listened and re-cast his line.

Old Man Trout flicked his tail, “I dreamt the world had no tilt and there were no seasons. There was no death or rebirth. Like before the moon came and created the tides.” He rolled in the water, “There was a red maple at twilight, and it never lost it’s leaves. You were in the dream, but you were always the same, always as you were and never changing.”

“Everything changes.”

“But only because of the tilt. If it wasn’t for the tilt, it would be like in my dream.”

The man considered this, “It was just a dream.”

“Nothing is just anything.” countered the fish, and flicked water at the man, who shrugged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and wiped off his cheek.

“What of the Aethers then? You’ll just do nothing?”

“I’m not interested any longer. There’s nothing to find.”

“The why fish at all?”

“Because to human doesn’t make sense,” the man chuckled. Then and later, “…it’s different now. I’m not looking for anything anymore. I’m no longer angry. I have no questions. I no longer read except for enjoyment and wonder at everything but ponder not at all. I just cast the line and see what comes, like how you may let a current take you.”

“I see.”

The man grinned, “Good.”

Eventually, the man’s seasons came to an end as seasons do, and his body was placed upon a raft and cast out into a lake alight with floating candles. He was escorted by an old trout that swam slowly in and out of the craft’s wake.

Castles in the Air

…if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. …

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.

- Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Revolution

What are they doing with those cameras?
“He’s their leader.” one to the other spoke
“Right there… he’s the leader”
And for no apparent reason…
They took him away.

What are they doing with those cameras?
“Let him go! Let him go!” they shouted.

What are they doing with those cameras?
Their behavior is very suspect.
They zero in on faces.
Why? What are they going to do with this information?

They see this guy, and assume that he’s a leader
‘Cause he has a megaphone, I suppose.
They walk all the way down here
To get a better angle on his face.
What are they going to do with this information?

What are they doing with those cameras?
It’s very dangerous to have them assume that you’re a leader.

Look at the lengths they go to, to identify this person.
Look at the details they try to pick up.
What are they doing with those cameras?

Here’s something to think about:
If you ever feel you’re being targeted by police
In the middle of a demonstration
It might be wise to disguise yourself.
Maybe change your clothes…
But don’t forget your shoes.

What are they doing with those cameras?
Be careful that your disguise doesn’t make them more curious.
Get the people with the masks, I hear them say.
His shirt looks like an old prison.
Black and white.
What are they going to use this information for?

You have a right to be nervous.
What are they doing with those cameras?
No one is breaking any laws here.
What are they going to do with this information?

Then & Now

Small things he gave to pen
and illustrote at length.
Before an oak desk,
Atop a warm chair,
in the twenty-sixteenth year
of his own age
he skithered and slackered,
towards some She he’d found.

Those days swayed their fold,
and equinoxed to plant some seeds,
Between the legs of her he found,
a soul containing
so many rooms

but whose?

(then and later)

“It’s many things” he said once
“and places these are they such few.”
“It’s an orrerie…” she said.
and he wondered at those many things
she claimed to think or thought she knew

She looked into the mercurous mirrors.
Their clockery ticks and poisoned time;
a sun so central, electroplated,
and planets so magnifified.

He watched at once through spectacles
gold-plated as they were mirrored
oak-cast and brass-bound rimmed
Reflecting himself to himself,
just as colors to his thirsty ears.

She grew planets from her fingers
and worlds from many arms
and light erupted from her sway
and dark from many palms

She was everything it seemed
and her horizon called to grave
all those things he knew he knew
and swayed his folded days

Saginaw Vineyards - Cottage Grove

Friday, July 11, 2008
6:00pm - 9:00pm

Conveniently located one mile off of I-5 at exit 176—near Cottage Grove
80247 Delight Valley Rd
541-942-1364

www.saginawvineyard.com

Koho Bistro/AZUL - 2nd Set: Alanis Morissette

Saturday, June 14th Jackie & Jason return to AZUL, Kim & Kevin Hyland’s new wine bar and lounge next to their delectable seafood restaurant, Koho Bistro. On the heels of last month’s successful debut, AZUL welcomes Jackie & Jason back to perform their June “Stealing The Covers” selection, Alanis Morisette’s “Jagged Little Pill”. Come check out Eugene’s hottest new music venue, partake of some out-of-this-world food and enjoy the music!

Koho Bistro/AZUL
May 24, 2008
9pm - midnight or later
2101 Bailey Hill Road
(in the shopping center across from Churchill High School)
www.kohobistro.com
(541) 681-9335

Territorial Wine Company - “STC” Alanis Morissette

On June 12th, Jackie & Jason premiere their June “Stealing The Covers” selection, Alanis Morissette’s ground-breaking album “Jagged Little Pill”.

On the 2nd Thursday of each month Jackie & Jason perform at Territorial Vineyards and Wine Company in the Whitaker District (corner of 3rd & Adams) in Eugene, Oregon. Each month their second set consists of an entire album, first song to last — a concept they call “Stealing The Covers” (or “STC” for those short on space). Performing those “deep album tracks” as well as the hits, providing their interpretation of the album as a whole, Jackie & Jason include all the songs you won’t hear other bands playing.

Check out “2nd Thursdays Live” at Territorial and enjoy “Jagged Little Pill” in June!

Thursday, June 12, 2008
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Territorial Vineyards & Wine Company (Tasting Room)
907 W 3rd Ave, Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 684-9463
www.territorialvineyards.com
Eugene’s hidden jewel. Visit Territorial’s state-of-the-art winery and swanky tasting room in downtown Eugene.

Koho Bistro/AZUL - U2’s “Joshua Tree”

Saturday, May 24th, Jackie & Jason debut at Eugene’s hottest new music venue — AZUL Lounge and Wine Bar located at 2101 Bailey Hill Road (across from Churchill High School). Continuing their “Stealing The Covers” series, their second set will feature their interpretation of U2’s album, “The Joshua Tree”, first song to last.

AZUL is the latest addition to Kim and Kevin Hyland’s Koho Bistro, which has long been a west side favorite for outstanding seafood and fine wine. They’ve now expanded, creating AZUL Lounge and Wine bar next door, featuring the best local musicians as well as specialty cocktails, wines by the glass and a fabulous bar menu. Come enjoy this relaxing oasis, and see why it’s called Eugene’s “gem in the urban wilderness.”

Koho Bistro/AZUL
May 24, 2008
9pm - midnight or later
2101 Bailey Hill Road
(in the shopping center across from Churchill High School)
www.kohobistro.com
(541) 681-9335

Territorial Wine Company - May 23, 2008

Here’s the perfect way to kick off Memorial Day Weekend! Friday, May 23rd Jackie & Jason will be performing at Territorial Wine Company (on the corner of 3rd and Adams) from 5pm - 8pm. Come by after work and start your holiday weekend off right!

Friday, May 23, 2008
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Territorial Vineyards & Wine Company (Tasting Room)
907 W 3rd Ave, Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 684-9463
www.territorialvineyards.com
Eugene’s hidden jewel. Visit Territorial’s state-of-the-art winery and swanky tasting room in downtown Eugene.

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